We know how to keep cool: around the corner, on an excursion, or on a weekend getaway! Photo courtesy of Alpine Slide Big Bear
Heat Wave Hot List: 77 Cool Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Everything at the Cayton has been carefully crafted with one goal in mind: to help create a better world through the power of play.
Guide to the Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica–A Parent Review
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your LA kid grow and develop.
GUIDE
Classes Guide for Los Angeles Kids
Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do
Photo by Kylie Williams
Get Lost in Bubble World: LA's Newest Immersive Experience for All Ages
Printable word search puzzles are a great way to keep little brains engaged.
Printable Word Puzzles for Kids: Great Sites for Word Searches, Crosswords, & Word Scrambles
Climbing encouraged at Wild Child. Photo courtesy of Wild Child Gym
30 Best Indoor Playgrounds in Los Angeles: Indoor Play Spaces for Hot (or Rainy?) Days
Karaoke is one of the fun, interactive activities at World of Barbie. Photo by Matt Matasci
World of Barbie is a Nostalgic, Pink Experience
Kiddos can climb through the famous Ant Tunnel. Photo courtesy of Kidspace
Kidspace: An Insider's Guide to LA's Beloved Children's Museum
One of the coolest spots in town is by the beach, a beach playground, and a pool. Photo courtesy of the Annenberg Community Beach House, Facebook
Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in Los Angeles
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
Launch into August with Rocket Fever. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Memorial Space Center
21 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles August 2023 with Kids
Go swimming at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Meghan Rose
The Best Swimming Lakes near Los Angeles You Need to Discover
Imaginative play for preschoolers is music to our ears. Photo courtesy of Pretend City
39 Things To Do with Preschoolers in Los Angeles Before They Turn 5
Malibu is swell! Photo courtesy of Malibu Makos Surf Club
Malibu with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Malibu, CA
It might be called mini-golf, but it's enormous fun. Photo courtesy of MB2 Entertainment
Best Mini-Golf in Los Angeles
Scoop into LA's best ice cream and frozen treats. Photo by Kylie Williams
LA's Best Ice Cream and Frozen Treats
Photo by Leah Kelley via Pexels
GUIDE
The Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Families
Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti
100 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Kids Grow Up
Train-obsessed kids will love this Griffith Park gem. Photo courtesy of Travel Town
71 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles This Summer with Kids
Legoland image courtesy of Legoland.
GUIDE
SoCal Theme and Water Parks Guide
Enjoy family movies in the moonlight. Photo courtesy of 2nd & PCH
Free Outdoor Movies in Los Angeles this Summer for Kids
You'll want s'more glamping adventures! Photo courtesy of Waypoint Ventura
Best Glamping Near Los Angeles for Family Fun
A pool party is the best summer birthday party. Photo courtesy of Rose Bowl Aquatic Center
Swimming Spots to Host a Pool Party for Your Los Angeles Kid
LevittLA Concert Series in MacArthur Park hosts musicians from LA and around the world. Photo courtesy of Levitt Foundation
Los Angeles's Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families This Summer
Newport Beach is literally home to the fun zone. Photo courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
35 Things To Do in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa with Kids
There are endless activities at Ventura Harbor Village. Photo by Kylie Williams
Ventura with Kids: 39 Great Things To Do in Ventura County
GUIDE
Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide
Kick off summer fun with carnival rides. Photo courtesy of the Fountain Valley Summerfest
31 Summer Festivals and Fairs in Los Angeles for Families
Who knew there was so much nature to see in the Las Vegas area? Photo courtesy of Springs Preserve
25 Road Trips From Los Angeles for a Weekend Family Getaway
Photo courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center
75 Things To Do with Orange County Kids Before They Grow Up
Slide on in, the water's fine. Photo courtesy of Legoland Water Park
Best Outdoor Water Parks in Los Angeles for Family Fun
GUIDE
Birthday Party Ideas Guide for Los Angeles Kids
There's something to explore in every season at Kidspace. Photo courtesy of Kidspace Children's Museum
33 Things To Do with Los Angeles Babies Before They Turn 1
Look for whales and dolphins right from your table at Malibu Farm. Photo by Meghan Rose
Best Outdoor Dining in Los Angeles at Family-Friendly Restaurants
Put your young helpers to work and you can all sleep under the stars this weekend.
Camping near Los Angeles: 17 Great Campgrounds for Tent Camping with Kids
Photo by Bill Soistmann
GUIDE
Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families
This 3 day itinerary will make you fall in love with LA. Photo by Roberto Nickson, via Pexels
3 Days in Los Angeles with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Vincent Lugo Park, also called Dinosaur or Monster Park, was nominated to the California Register of Historic Places. Photo courtesy of the City of San Gabriel
The Best Playgrounds in Los Angeles: They’re Even Worth Crossing the 405
The carnival comes to Culver. Photo courtesy of Fiesta La Ballona
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, Fiesta La Ballona, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

35 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before School Starts: Ack! School Is Starting

Kidspace Campout brings a camping adventure to the city. Photo courtesy of the Museum
Kidspace Campout brings a camping adventure to the city. Photo courtesy of the Museum
8/5/22 - By Meghan Rose

Quick: It’s time to shoehorn all these last favorite things to do in Los Angeles before school starts up!

Is it me, or did this summer go by extra fast? I feel like we didn’t get to do half of our usual summer traditions, and now school is about to start. Hopefully, you at least got in a few day trips, visited a few beach towns, and got to go swimming in a lake or two. But perhaps you haven’t made it on as many outings this summer? There are some really cool museum exhibits (like Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out at the Discovery Cube) and shows for kids (The Actor’s Gang Shakespeare in the park is back in Culver City!) that truly should not be missed—and they won’t be here when the next school vacation rolls around. And they’re easy to squeeze in between your Target run for notebooks, last-minute doctor’s appointments, and one more run for ice cream…

Check out more end-of-summer fun in our Summer Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids. And if school is starting soon for your family, our Back-to-School Guide has pretty much everything you need.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Don't miss Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out. Photo courtesy of Discovery Cube
Don't miss Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out. Photo courtesy of Discovery Cube

Great Museum Exhibits for Kids in Los Angeles

Dinos in The City (Exhibit)

Irvine - Open through September 2
There are dinos in the city this summer at Pretend City's newest exhibit. Kids can explore engaging interactives with life-like animatronic dinosaurs and fun educational content. Learn how paleontologists unearth bones, dig in the dinosaur pit, and take home an etching of several species of dinosaurs. READ MORE

Kidspace Campout

Pasadena - Open through September 4
Kidspace kicks off summer with Kidspace Campout, a summer-long celebration of the best of summer, nature, and exploration, sized just right for kids and families to share. READ MORE

Butterfly Pavilion at the NHM

Exposition Park - Open through September 5
It's time to emerge from our chrysalis! The Natural History Museum welcomes butterfly lovers back to the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Gardens. Get up close to beautiful butterflies at this seasonal exhibit. READ MORE

Exhibit: Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia

Exposition Park - Open through September 5
The California Science Center visitors can discover the ancient Khmer empire with the world premiere of the international touring exhibition Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia. The exhibition features over 120 ancient artifacts, half of which are on tour for the first time. READ MORE

Exhibit: Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out

Pacoima - Open through September 11
Get ready to feel some joy: the new exhibit at Discovery Cube LA enlists the crew of Pixar's Inside Out to explore emotions. READ MORE

The Fantasy of the Middle Ages at the Getty Center

West LA - Open through September 11
Free
Knights, castles, dragons, battles, kings, queens ... there's a great new exhibit called The Fantasy of the Middle Ages at the Getty, and it features all of this, and more. READ MORE

Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow at the Broad Museum

DTLA - Open through September 25
Free on Thursdays and always for kids under 12
The Broad Museum currently has an exhibit that expands the notion of what art is: Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow. The works include sculpture, painting, wallpaper, and immersive installations with AR elements. READ MORE
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair
Ventura County Fair brings all the fair fun to the seaside. Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fair

Shows & Festivals for Kids in Los Angeles

As Boo Like It

Culver City - Saturdays & Sundays in August
Free
The long-awaited return of kid-friendly Shakespeare in Culver City? As Boo Like It! The Actors Gang is at it again, this year putting a spin on Shakespeare's As You Like It that is simply monstrous! READ MORE

2023 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park - Wednesday - Sunday through September 4
Free
Lord, what fools these mortals be!  But not so foolish as they would miss the final weekend of  A Midsummer Night's Dream in Griffith Park. READ MORE

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

Little Tokyo - August 13 - 20
Free
Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan during Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. Nisei Week is one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. Guests can try Japanese cuisine, watch the gyoza eating contest, marvel at the vehicles in the car show, wave at the floats during the Grand Parade, and enjoy a performance of Taiko drumming.  READ MORE

Ventura County Fair

Ventura - Daily through August 14
Ride 'em, Cowboy!  Ventura County Fair rides off into the sunset with the PRCA Rodeo all weekend. READ MORE

State Fair Santa Anita

Arcadia - Thursday - Sunday through August 20
The State Fair at Santa Anita returns for a second summer, billing itself as the official summer fair of LA. Filling the hole left in summer by the LA County Fair's move to May, the State Fair serves up carnival rides and games, local and national entertainment, a social media stage, fair foods (read: artery-clogging deliciousness), adult beverage sampling (!), and a special area just for kids. READ MORE

BBQ Music Fest

Fountain Valley - Friday - Sunday, August 19 - 21
BBQ chefs from around the country gather to grill ribs, chicken, sausage, pulled pork, and other succulent delicacies at this 3-day festival. Award-winning pitmasters battle local barbecue gurus to see whose ribs are the most irresistible. READ MORE

Fiesta La Ballona

Torrance - Friday - Sunday, August 26 - 28
Free admission
Culver City's premier community event, Fiesta La Ballona, treats families to outdoor concerts, carnival rides (wristbands available for purchase), a petting zoo, K-9 demonstrations, and pony rides all weekend long. Other highlights include a pancake breakfast and a magic show.  READ MORE

Pageant of the Masters

Laguna Beach - Daily through September 25
Actors, designers, and a full orchestra recreate great works of art as living pictures in a hillside amphitheater under the stars in the Pageant of the Masters, Laguna's signature nightly summertime event. READ MORE
Meet the stars of tomorrow! (And see a great game for $2.) Photo courtesy of mlb.com
Meet the stars of tomorrow! (And see a great game for $2.) Photo courtesy of mlb.com

Sporting Events for Kids in Los Angeles

Quakes Minor League Baseball - Fireworks Nights

Rancho Cucamonga - Select dates through August 12
Take me out to the (minor league base)ball game! For young baseball lovers, minor league games are a wonderful opportunity to see future (and sometimes even current) major league players, for a fraction of the ticket price. On select nights, the Quakes will light up the sky with a fireworks display after the game.  READ MORE

LA Galaxy Kids Night

Carson - Saturday, August 13
Celebrate our beloved LA Galaxy with a special match geared for the littlest soccer fans!  This is only one of the many themed nights planned for the summer at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Other themes include 90's night, fireworks night (July 4, 2022), and Star Wars night (July 24, 2022). READ MORE

Los Angeles Sparks Games

DTLA - Select dates through August 14
The girl power is fierce at Los Angeles Sparks WNBA games at the newly renamed Crypto.com arena. Get all the thrills of a game at Crypto.com without having to pay an arm and a leg. The arena is kid-friendly, and there's plenty of food and drink vendors when your little ones start to get the mid-game munchies. Check the Sparks' website calendar for the specific dates and times of home games.  READ MORE

Inland Empire 66ers Games

San Bernardino - $2 Tuesdays through September 6
Take your whole fam out to a ball game to cheer for the Inland Empire 66ers at the San Manuel Stadium. This Minor League Baseball team makes every game fun with special promotions and lots of interaction. Best of all, tickets are typically under $10 and there are special deals on food certain nights of the week. It's the perfect, affordable night of family summer fun. READ MORE

Angel City Football Club Matches

Exposition Park - Select dates through September 25
Show your kiddos that women kick it playing pro soccer by taking them to an Angels City Football Game at the stunning Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park. These fun-filled, family-friendly football matches inspire young soccer players and give them a goal to reach for at those Saturday morning AYSO games.  READ MORE

Angels Post-Game Fireworks

Anaheim - Select Saturdays through October 1
The Angels' game ends with a bang on select Saturday nights—a fireworks kind of bang.   Some games may include additional promotions. READ MORE

Kids Run the Bases - Dodgers Home Game

DTLA - Select Sundays through October 2 (or later!)
Kids 5 - 14 get to run the bases after most daytime Dodger home games on Sundays.  Please note that the game originally schedule for August 20 has been rescheduled to August 19 due to the expected rain. READ MORE

LAFC Soccer Matches

Exposition Park - Select dates through October 9
Soccer moms, take a break from slicing oranges and washing soccer jerseys, and take your kiddos to a real game at the beautiful Banc of California Stadium. The Los Angeles Football Club starts each match with their signature falcon release, where a celebrity guest releases a live falcon for a flight around the venue. After that, it's game time! These soccer matches are filled with energy and excitement that is sure to inspire young athletes.  READ MORE

Polo Matches at Will Rogers

Pacific Palisades - Saturdays & Sundays through October 30
Free
Catch a (free) polo match weekends this spring and summer at the Will Rogers polo field. Don't know what a chukker is? No need to know anything to enjoy a day of polo. Just bring a picnic and relax while watching magnificent horses pound up and down the field right in front of you. READ MORE
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks
Catch a movie in the park. Photo courtesy of OC Regional Parks

Outdoor Movies and Concerts in Los Angeles To Catch Before Fall

Sun Sets Concert Series at Calabasas Lake 2023

Calabasas - August 7 & 29
Free
Families set up and picnic before concerts on the Calabasas Lake Greenbelt adjacent to the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. READ MORE

Skirball Sunset Concerts

West LA - Thursdays in August
Free
The Skirball’s summertime Sunset Concerts are held in the Museum's courtyard. The 26th season celebrates music’s unique power to bring people together and forge cultural bonds. This year’s lineup features artists from Jewish, African, and Cuban diasporas, reflecting music’s connective threads to the past and its ability to forge cultural bonds and inspire hope for the future. READ MORE

Thursday Night Summer Music Series at the Farmers Market

Mid-City - Fridays in August
Free
The annual Summer Music Series at the Original Farmers Market features a different band every Thursday evening on the Farmers Market Plaza near the Clock Tower. READ MORE

Jazz at LACMA 2023

Mid-City - Fridays through November 18
Free
LACMA's Friday night Jazz series returns with free weekly performances celebrating L.A.'s finest jazz musicians. READ MORE

OC Parks Sunset Cinema Movie Series 2023

Various parks in OC - Fridays through September 2
Free
OC Parks screens free family-friendly movies at rotating locations on Fridays this summer. This year's selections include recent releases like Thor: Love and Thunder and Lightyear, and classics such as Clueless and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. READ MORE

Newport Dunes Movies on the Beach

Newport Beach - Fridays & Saturdays through September 3
Free
Movies on the Beach is back! Families can watch family-friendly films on the sand at Newport Dunes Resort. READ MORE

Getty Garden Concerts for Kids

West LA - Saturdays & Sundays in August
Free
The Getty Garden Concerts close out with millennial dad Pierce Freelon, who entertains with a joyful blend of hip-hop, electronic jazz and soul. READ MORE

Movies on the Lawn

Irvine - Saturdays through August 13
Free
Families can enjoy an outdoor movie experience under the stars at the Orange County Great Park. Bring your own low-back beach chair, blanket, and snacks. Food and light refreshments are available for purchase. READ MORE

Movies on the Green (Warner Center)

Woodland Hills - Saturdays in August
Free
Free outdoor movies return to Warner Center Park this August. Films are presented on a 30-foot theatrical screen with digital projection, surround sound, and high-resolution digital picture.  Selections this year include Top Gun: Maverick, Coco and Jurassic World Dominion. READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Summer Concerts in the Park 2023

Manhattan Beach - Sundays through September 4
Free
Manhattan Beach's concerts in Polliwog Park come to a close with the Blue Breeze Band, playing Motown, R&B, Jazz, funk and more. READ MORE

Dana Point Summer of Music Concerts in the Park

Dana Point - Sundays through August 14
Free
Dana Point's free summertime series is held in Sea Terrace Park. Each concert features two acts. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Pretend City Children's Museum
Kidspace Children's Museum
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium
Banc of California Stadium
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Banc of California Stadium
The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center
The Original Farmers Market
Various OC Parks, such as Craig Park